New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading says his gut feeling is that Rory Fallon will play for the All Whites in their "friendly" against Mexico next month.
But Glading hopes the club-versus-country tug-of-war can be resolved in time for the squad to be named on Monday.
The match in Los Angeles on March 4 (NZT) is part of New Zealand's build-up to the World Cup, but has been overshadowed by uncertainty over Fallon's availability.
The fixture is in a Fifa window, which means Fallon is obliged to turn out for New Zealand and could face a two-match ban if he doesn't.
However, the striker, who scored the decisive goal against Bahrain that gained the All Whites' their passage to South Africa, is also involved in a relegation battle with English club Plymouth Argyle.
Plymouth are languishing at second bottom in the second tier Championship and coach Paul Mariner doesn't want Fallon to make the trip to California.
Mariner is in talks with All Whites counterpart Ricki Herbert, who has said he wants Fallon in his squad.
Glading today said that NZ Football could accept not having Fallon's services against Mexico if Herbert ended up agreeing to Mariner's request.
"My gut feeling is that Rory will play for us but, if between them, they decide otherwise, we can live with that as well," he said.
If the parties could not reach an agreement, "then we will step in and make use of our rights" under Fifa regulations.
Glading said one of Herbert's concerns was that, if an exception was made with Fallon, other clubs might seek the same.
As well, there were few opportunities to get the New Zealand squad together and Fallon was a key member.
Glading spoke to Mariner a week ago as part of the process of getting players released for the Mexico match.
Mariner told him Fallon had been in good form and was an important part of the Plymouth set-up.
"By the same token, he (Mariner) played for North Shore for one season and he toured here with an England international team, so he knows New Zealand well and is very pro-New Zealand," Glading said.
"He is well aware how important the World Cup is both to us and to Rory."
Mariner told the Argyle website that he was concerned about the amount of travelling Fallon would have to do, given that Plymouth were due to play Preston three days later.
"It's a friendly match and I've spoken to Ricki -- we know each other from way back when," he said.
"He completely understands our situation and I understand his situation. He's preparing a team for the World Cup and he wants all his best players.
"We're trying to work something out. It will get resolved quickly."
